CAN upgrade already since April, Chengdu replaces Macau as a surprise destination as its never been mentioned before, Macau was cleared for launch this year and Hong Kong last year along with Guangzhou started this February and Bangkok which was to be their first Southeast Asian route.

Macau will take time to develop with Indian tour operators and businesses but once it is, it shall prove to extremely popular given its reputation for being the 'Vegas of the East'. Indians will throng to Macau as its a family friendly destination too.

Pleasing to see that Spice Jet is looking EAST rather than the usual WEST. Another market it should seriously consider is Delhi-SGN 4 times per week using a B737 as that will be the next big mass market for Indian tourists and businesses similar to what SIN, KUL and BKK was in the 1990s.

Macau is very popular among Indian tour operators lately. Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore (and now Macau thrown in for good measure) is the most popular package tour from India. Can be still kinda pricey but dunno if an LCC flight might bring the prices further down and make it accessible to more people.

Quoting behramjee (Reply 3):Indians will throng to Macau as its a family friendly destination too.

Macau is not vegas. It is not family friendly - It's all casinos, luxury shopping and hookers, and nothing to keep the kids and grandparents happy. The Macau gvt are aware of this, and will work over the next decade to improve the range of family orientated destinations.

I would've thought the same. SG seem to be exploring new markets (for Indian LCCs at least), while 6E seem to be increasing frequencies on its existing int'l routes trying to get themselves established to fight it out with the big boys (EK, EY etc on the Gulf routes).

Quoting behramjee (Reply 3):Pleasing to see that Spice Jet is looking EAST rather than the usual WEST. Another market it should seriously consider is Delhi-SGN 4 times per week using a B737 as that will be the next big mass market for Indian tourists and businesses similar to what SIN, KUL and BKK was in the 1990s.

They got rights to SGN from DEL in the last round of allocations (9W got BOM-SGN) agree that Vietnam is the next 'BIG' tourist destination for Indians, but I also believe that there is room to play with direct flights to Phuket and Langkawi as well. As well as routes to Jakarta and Denpasar.

Why don't Indian carriers fly to Chittagong, are there restrictions on such a service? and what about Iran, like the city of Mashhad where Iran Aseman plank to fly from to Hyderabad catering Shia pilgrims, I know Spice are to start Najaf in Iraq which is also for pilgrim traffic.